Adjustable header device for hillside combine



H. B. CLIFFORD ET 2,947,134

HEADER DEVICE FOR HILLSIDE COMBINE Aug. 2, 1960 ADJUSTABLE Filed May 29, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. 7" 2 DONALD HECTOR McNElL, a

{9" HERBERT BENJAMIN CLIFFORD B) g 4 I .Mr W

AT ORNEYS.

2,947,134 ADJUSTABLE HEADER DEVICE FOR HILLSIDE COMBINE Filed May 29, 1958 1960 H. B. CLIFFORD ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w S 5 8 Y R arr. F- F N L R mun J V CN %T N l. IWM A J/ f mu CE 1 EB H W DR LE AB NRY OEB DH Aug. 2, 1960 H. B. CLIFFORD ETAL 4 ADJUSTABLE HEADER DEVICE FOR HILLSIDE COMBINE Aug. 2, 1960 H. B. CLIFFORD ETAL 2,947,134

ADJUSTABLE HEADER DEVICE FOR HILLSIDE COMBINE Filed May 29, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 DONALD HECTOR McNElL, a HERBERT BENJAMIN CLIFFORD BY M, 4,

ADJUSTABLE HEADER DllglllglCE e 7Claims. c1. 56-209)" This invention relates generally to'harvesting machines of the self-propelled combine type, and more particularly, to so-called hillside combines. adapted to operate along sloping terrain.

A hillside combine is commonly provided with vertical- 1y positionable supporting wheels which are properly adjusted to keep the combine body level when moving along I sharply sloping ground. In the US. Patent to Harp,

No. 2,753,675, issued July 10, 19 56, and assigned to the assignee of. the present invention, an improved hillside combine construction is disclosed and claimed wherein the combine header assembly is longitudinally pivoted and interconnected to the vertically movable wheels so that movement of the wheels to level the combine body also swingsthe header assembly to maintain the assembly parallel to the ground. In this way,1adjustrnent of the wheels both levels the Combine and keeps the header assembly properly oriented withrespect to the sloping terrain. I

It is the general aim of the present invention to pro vide an improved pivoted header assembly construction for a hillside combine which permits a large capacity feeder house and elevator to be utilized for carrying harvested material from the header assembly into the combine body.

In more detail, it is an object of the invention to improve thehillside combine construction shown in the above-identified Harp patent by providing a novelheader assembly and pivoting arrangement that avoids any COI'I'. striction of the feed opening between the assemblyand,

the adjoining feeder house or header, spout.

d m Pm e M Fig. a'transverse sectionalview taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

'Fig. 5 is an enlar along the line 5 -5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isfan enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken I, along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

It is anotherobject to provide a pivoted header assembly of the above type that turns smoothly on its axis without binding or sticking. I provide such an assembly arranged so that its own weight assures a free-turning, butclosely fitting, unit which avoids spillage of the harvested material between the header assembly and the adjoining feeder house. a

It is also an object. to provide a novel- -andctfective arrangement for positively icoupling a pivoted fheader assembly to the positionable wheels of a hillside combine,

It;.is a related object to while providing limited resilience in the "connection,,.soj

as to avoid inadvertent damagea It is a further object to provide a pivoted *header as;

sembly as characterized above that is strong, economical to manufacture, and especially service. I I I I Other objects and advantages of the, invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

'60 simple to assembly and Figure 1 is a front elevation of a hillside combine em-f Fig. 7 is Ianexploded perspective view of a fragmen- 1 tary portion of the combine appearing in Figs. 1 and 2,

with parts removed.

While vthe invention will be described in connection ,with'. a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. tives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a harvester 10 of the self propelled combine type that is especially adaptedfor operation along sloping terrain.

Amachinesof this nature is commonly referred tons a hillside combine. To keep the combine level when it is operating on a hillside, it is provided with vertically positionable driving wheels 11 and 12. In addition,

the harvester platform or header assembly 15 is pivoted at the forward end of the header spout or feeder house 16 so as to be swingable about a generally longitudinal axis.

When in normal operation on level ground, the driving wheels 11 and 12 are disposed generally on the same transverse axis, and the header assembly 15 is disposed generally parallel with the axis of the wheels 11, 12

soas to be level with the ground (see Fig. 1). When i the combine 10 is operated on a hillside, the vertical positions of-the drive wheels 11, 12 are adjusted and the header assembly 15 is swung about its pivot, so that the combine 10 remains horizontal and the header assembly remains generally parallel to the sloping ground surface (see Fig. 2).

The header assemblylS includes a transverse conveyor 21' and aback wall 22 havinga central discharge opening 23. The conveyor 21 is effective to carry harvested material toward the center of the header assembly 15 and to urge it rearwardly through the discharge opening 23 "I he feeder house 16 encloses an elevator 24 (see Fig. 3) which projects at 25 through an intake opening 26 Y formed in the forward face 27 of the feeder house. 'I'he back Wall '22 of the header. assembly overlies the forward face 27 of the feeder house 16, and the discharge open: ing' 23 is generally alined with the intake opening 26 so that the projecting portion 25 of the elevator 24 exinto the bodyof the combine 10.

In'accordance with'the invention, the header assembly '15 is pivotedon the feeder house 16 along an axis spaced frornthe intake opening 26, and the discharge opening 23 is segmental in shape so that the passage through the openings 23, 26 remains wide and unobstructed as the header assembly swings about its pivot. In the preferred embodiment, the header assembly 15 is pivoted on a pivot pin 30 which-is fixed above the intake opening 26 by a pair of bracket plates 31, 32 on the feeder house 16. The pin 30 passes through a pair of holes 33 formed inthe opposite sides of a channel portion 34 at the' top of the back wall 22 of the header assembly. A nut 35 is secured on the end of the pivot pin 30 and holds the parts inassembled relation.

Because of the wide, segmental shape of the discharge Patented Aug. 2,,

ged fragmentary sectional view taken? On the contrary, we intend to cover all alterna In the illustrated; embodiment, 1a,

shield 36is mounted on the inner face' of thelback'wall 22 (see Fig. 7) which prevents harvested materialifrom,

becoming tangledor jammed about the pin 30.. e

In order to prevent spillage between the back. v ta 21 11 22 v and the forward face 27, the face is formedw ith an arcuate track 50 bounding the lower edge of the opening 26 and being alined with the lower edge 23q of theopen ing 23. The track 50 and the lower edge 23a have common centers lying ontheaxis of the pin 3t)- andfare provided with interfitting flangessoasto form a tight joint between the openings 23, 26 in all angular positions ofv theheader. assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a first. curved strip of angle iron 51 is secured on the for ward face 27 on the feeder house andformsboth the track 58 and an axially extending flange 52. 7 A second curved strip of angle iron 53 is secured to theback Wall. 22 of the header assembly so as to define the lower.

arcuate edge 23a of the segmental opening .23 as well as an .axially extending flange 54 that fits smoothly and fitting flanges 52, 54, together with the ear panels 56, 57-, elfectively prevent spillage of the harvested material passing through the openings 23, 26 in all angular positions of the header assembly.

For the purpose of allowing the header assembly to swing smoothly about the pivot pin 30, rollers are interposed between the track and theback wall 22 of the header assembly. In the embodiment shown, a-pair of rollers 60 are extended through respective spaced openings 61 in the track 50 so as to bear against the angle iron 53 defining the lower arcuate edge 23a of the opening 23. The rollers 60 are journaled in brackets 62 that.

are secured to the underside of :the feeder house 16 (see Fig. 6). The rollers 60 thus provide a virtually frictionless trackway between the header assembly 15 and the feeder house 16.

As a feature of the invention, the forward face 27 of the feeder house is inclined slightly rearwardly so that;

erably not great, and in the illustrated embodiment it is an angle 65 ofonly af ew degrees (see Fig. 3). The

affording some resilience in this coupling so that when one side 'of the header'assembly is inadvertently struck against the ground neither coupling mechanism nor the header assembly will be damaged. In the exemplary combineltl, the wheels 11, 12 are secured to hubs, of which only the hub 11a is shown .(see Fig. 3). The hub 11a is carried on the outer end of an arm pivoted at 76 to the mainframe of the combine, and the hub for the wheel 12 is similarly mounted." A hydraulic actuator 77 is employed to swing the arm 75, and thus adjustably position the supporting wheel 11 in a vertical direction.

Coupling the positionable wheel 11 to the header assembly 15, is a rack 81 which is held by a slide structure 82 in engagement with a pinion carried by a shaft 83. A chain 84, a sprocket shaft 85 and a chain 86, positively connect the pinion on the shaft 83with a drum shaft 87 journaled on the top of the feeder house 16 (see Figs. 1 and 3). Carriedat each end of the drum shaft 87 are drums 88, 89 having secured ,theretocables 90 and 91, respectively. i

The cable 91 extends forwardly along the feeder house 16 to a pulley 92.j0urnaled by a bracket 93 on the side of the feeder house... From the pulley 92, the cable 91 extends outwardlyv behind the back wall 22 and is secured to the header assembly through a relatively heavy spring 94 which'is anchored to the header assembly by a bracket 95.

The cable 90, arranged similarly to the cable 91, is trained about a pulleyv96journaled on a bracket 97 and is anchored by a relatively heavy spring 98 secured at 99 to. the header assembly.

It can now beseen that as the hydraulic actuator 77 lowers the wheel 11 by forcing the arm 75 downwardly, the rack 81 will, through the chains 84, 86, wind the cable 91 about the drum 88 while simultaneously feeding the cable 90 from the drum 89 so that the header assembly 15 is swung about the pin 30 to conform with the slope ofthe ground over which the combine 10 is travelling. The springs 94,. 98,'through which the cables are securedto the header assembly, provide limited resilience in the connection between the wheels and the header assembly, so that the connection can give when an obstruction, is encountered without damage to the parts.

It will be noted that the header assembly 15 can be quite easily and quickly mounted on the feeder house for assembly, and detached for cleaning or servicing. Simply removing the nut 35 and disconnecting the springs 94, 98 from their respective anchoring brackets 95, 99, permits the header assembly to be dropped free fromthe feeder house.

We claim our invention:

1. In a hillside harvester, the combination comprising a feeder house having a. forward face with an intake opening formed therein, a header assembly having a back Wall overlying said forward face, said header assembly being pivoted on said feeder house along an axis spaced from said intake opening, and said back wall having a angle 65 is taken between a line 66 lying in the plane'ofj the forward face 27 of the feeder house and a line; 67-

which lies in a generally vertical plane when the feeder house 16 is swung about its pivot point 16a to lower,

the header assembly 15 into operating position.

To. prevent the header assembly from swinging forwardlyfrom the track 50, a pair ofretaining rollers 70 are positioned behind the edges of the ear panels 56, 57 respectively, and are journaled in brackets 71 secured to the back wall 22 of the header assembly (see Figs. 4 and 5). It will be appreciated that the rollers 70, to-' gether with the rollers 60-and the arcuate angle irons 51, 53, provide a turret-like coupling between the header,

assembly 50 and the feeder house.

It is a further feature of the invention that the vertically, positionable wheels 11, Rare positively coupled to. the,

segmentally shaped discharge opening formed therein alined with said intake opening so as to form a passage from said header assembly to said feederhouse whose open cross section remains substantially equal to said intake opening as the headerassernbly -swings aboutsaid pivot.

2. In a hillside harvester, the combination comprising a feeder house having a forward facewith an intake opening formed, therein, a, header assembly having a back Wall overlying said forward face,'a pin positioned above said intake opening pivoting said header assembly on said feeder house, anti-friction means interposed between said assembly and said house so that the assembly will swing freely on said pin, said back wall having a segmentally shaped discharge opening formed therein alined with said intake opening so as to forma passage from said header pivotedheader-assembly15, provision being made 7.5 assembly to said feeder house whose open cross section remains substantially equal to said intake opening as the header assembly swings about said pivot, and mutually interfitting flanges on said assembly and said house so as to prevent spillage between said face and said wall.

3. In a hillside harvester, the combination comprising a feeder house having a forward face with an intake opening formed therein, a header assembly having a back wall overlying said forward face, said header assembly being pivoted on said feeder house along an axis spaced above said intake opening, said forward face having an arcuate track bounding the lower edge of said intake opening and having its center at said axis, said back well being formed with a segmentally shaped opening having a lower arcuate edge Whose center line lies on said axis and which is generally alined with said track, and said track and said lower arcuate edge having interiitting flange por-' opening formed therein, a header assembly having a back Wall overlying said forward face, a pin pivoting said header assembly on said feeder house along an axis spaced above said intake opening, said forward face having an arcuate track bounding the lower edge of said intake opening with its center at said axis, said back wall being formed with a segmental opening having a lower arcuate edge whose center line lies on said axis and which is generally alined with said track, said track and said lower arcuate edge having interfitting flange portions so as to prevent spillage between said face and said wall in any angular position of said header assembly, and a plurality of rollers interposed between said track and said lower edge so as to permit the head assembly to swing smoothly about said pins.

5. In a hillside harvester, the combination comprising a feeder house having a forward face inclined rearwardly and being formed with an intake opening therein, a header assembly having a back wall overlying said in clined forward face so that the weight of said assembly urges said wall against said face, said header assembly being pivoted to said feeder house on an axis spaced above said intake opening, and said back wall having a segmentally shaped discharge opening formed therein alined with said intake opening so as to form a passage from said header assembly to said feeder house Whose open cross section remains substantially equal to that of said intake opening as the header assembly swings about said pivot.

6. In a hillside harvester, the combination comprising a feeder house having a forward face inclined rearwardly and being formed with an intaketopening therein, a header assembly having a back wall overlying the inclined forward face so that the weight of said assembly urges said wall against said face, said header assembly being pivoted to said feeder house along an axis spaced above said intake opening, said back wall having a discharge opening formed therein and alined with said intake opening, and arcuate interfitting flanges on said house and said assembly, said flanges having said axis as their center.

7. In a hillside harvester, the combination comprising a feeder house having a forward face inclined rearwardly and being formed with an intake opening therein, a header assembly having a back wall overlying the inclined forward face so that the weight of said assembly urges said wall against said face, a pin positioned above said intake opening pivoting said header assembly on said feeder house along an axis generally perpendicular to said face, said back wall having a discharge opening formed therein and alined with said intake opening, a plurality of anti-friction elements interposed between said header assembly and said feederhouse so as to bear the weight of the assembly and allow it to swing smoothly about said pin, and means to prevent said header assembly from moving away from said elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,513,111 Schiller June 27, 1950 2,656,668 Witzel q. Oct. 27, 1953 2,796,717 Orelind et al June 25, 1957 

